"Joey Votto was the unquestioned Most Valuable Player of the Reds this season and is the odds-on favorite to win the National League MVP award.

But the glue that held the Reds together in their drive to their first playoff berth since 1995 was veteran third baseman Scott Rolen, who arrived in Cincinnati last July in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays and immediately set a winning tone that carried over to this season.

It was Rolen, a veteran of three postseason appearances and 35 games, who showed the young Reds the way with his quiet leadership and example. And it was Rolen's timely hitting who helped the Reds stay competitive during the first half of the season.

"He was great for us all season," said right fielder Jay Bruce. "He doesn't have to say a word. He leads by his actions. He's a true professional."

But when the playoffs arrived, the 35-year-old Rolen wasn't the same player the Reds had come to count on during the regular season.

Against the Phillies, he struck out eight times in 11 at-bats and managed only one hit in the series, a ground ball single up the middle in the fourth inning of the Reds' 2-0 loss in game three of the NL division playoffs.

The seven-time Gold Glove winner also committed two errors.

"It's not the way I wrote it up," Rolen said. "It's not the way any of us wrote it up."

Rolen's lack of hitting and his defensive deficiencies were emblematic of the series for the Reds, who scored only four runs and committed seven errors.

"They threw three pitchers at us that obviously we struggled with," Rolen said. "I know I certainly struggled."

But Rolen wasn't alone in his futility against the Phillies' big three starters of Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels.

Votto had only one hit in 10 at-bats and grounded into a double play in the ninth inning Sunday after Brandon Phillips led off with a single to left."